Matthew 21:12-13

Mark 11:15-18

Luke 19:45-46

John 2:13-17

The story of Jesus cleansing the Temple looms large in our memory and imagination, but it takes only a few verses to tell. Some of the details we recall most readily—Jesus making a whip (“Macramé, Jesus?” “Nope. Just watch.”), the quotation of Psalm 69:9—are shared by John alone, but John puts the incident much earlier in his Gospel (He seems to be saying, “If you want to understand what Jesus is about, you need to hear this story first”).

Maybe the brevity of its telling in the Gospels reflects some discomfort. I mean, this isn’t exactly a “Hasten the children to come to me” moment. It’s more of a “Cover the children’s eyes; this is going to be ugly” moment. Sweet, loving Jesus? Not exactly.

So, what’s going on? Is Jesus having what my mother called a “hissy fit”? Is it a temper tantrum … or a temple tantrum? No. Read the Gospels. Jesus is very much in control of himself and the situation. He’s making a statement. He’s shutting down the business of worship.

It’s the height of tourist season in Jerusalem or, more accurately, pilgrim season. It’s Passover, and people have come to worship and offer sacrifices in the Temple. But what to sacrifice? “Have no worries! We can meet your sacrificial needs … for a price. And if you want to make a monetary gift, well, that Roman money won’t work. Fortunately, we have the appropriate coins right here, available at a relatively fair exchange rate.”

No more, says Jesus … emphatically. No more will access to God be limited by status or wealth (though sometimes we forget that still).

Keep your eyes on Jesus this week. You don’t have to reach out to God through sacrifice or cash. God reaches out to you, arms wide.

- Rev. Westmoreland

Left artwork: JESUS MAFA. Jesus drives out the merchants, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Right artwork: Stanley Spencer (British, 1891–1959), Christ Overturning the Money Changers’ Table, 1921. Oil on canvas, 74 × 60 cm. Stanley Spencer Gallery, Cookham, England.